2022 Edible Holiday Gifts – Part 3
Chocolate and peanut butter are a classic combination but sometimes you need a little extra something to bring it to the next level. Believe it or not, pretzels do just that in these delectable peanut butter pretzel bars.
Just add salt
Whether it’s salted caramel or eating french fries with chocolate ice cream, sometimes you need salt to balance out the sweetness of a dessert. In these bars, the pretzels not only add structure to the base, but add that much needed bit of salt to complement the richness of the chocolate and peanut butter.
No-baking needed but you still need time
The great thing about these bars is they don’t need any time in the oven. The only “cooking” needed is melting butter for the base. However, you will need some cooling time in the fridge to let the bars set before you cut them into batons.
Gifting ideas
There are any number of pretty holiday containers that you can use to package up these treats. Line containers with parchment paper or waxed paper first. Or you could package these bars with a serving dish that can be used again.
Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars
- Total Time: 1 hour, 35 minutes
- Yield: 24 1x
Description
These no-bake bars take the classic combination of peanut butter and chocolate to a new level with the addition of salty pretzels.
Ingredients
8 ounces small pretzels
3/4 cup unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks)
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup confectioner’s sugar
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 teaspoons coconut oil or shortening
Instructions
Line an 8″ x 8″ pan with parchment paper, extending beyond the sides for easy removal. Lightly spray with baking spray. Set aside.
In a medium pot, melt the butter then remove from the heat. While the butter is still warm, stir in the peanut butter and stir to combine.
Set aside about ¾ cup of pretzels for garnish (broken pieces are okay).
In a food processor, pulse the remaining pretzels into fine crumbs (or place the pretzels in a zip top bag and bash with a rolling pin). Add the confectioner’s sugar and blitz together then transfer to a large bowl. Pour over the butter-peanut butter mixture and stir to combine. Press the pretzel mixture into the prepared pan. Place in the refrigerator to cool for 15 minutes.
In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips and coconut oil (or shortening) in the microwave, starting at 30 seconds then in 15 second intervals if needed, stirring between each interval. Be careful not to let the chocolate scorch.
Spread the chocolate over the peanut butter layer then decorate with the reserved pretzels. You may break some of the pretzels for variation or leave them whole. Lightly press into the chocolate.
Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before cutting into bars.
Notes
Recipe may be doubled to fit a 13″ x 9″ pan.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Inactive Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 213.22
- Sugar: 12.13 g.
- Sodium: 153.38 g.
- Fat: 13.34 g.
- Saturated Fat: 6.38 g.
- Carbohydrates: 21.63 g.
- Fiber: 1.31 g.
- Protein: 3.27 g.
- Cholesterol: 15.7 g.
Keywords: pretzels, peanut butter, chocolate
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